UFC: Hunt stripping weight in Mexican heat

Mark Hunt's weight cut is on track ahead of his interim heavyweight title bout. Photo / Getty

Mark Hunt's weight cut is on track ahead of his interim heavyweight title bout with Fabricio Werdum at UFC 180 in Mexico on November 16.

The 'Super Samoan', who was given the opportunity to headline the card against Werdum after UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez pulled out with a knee injury recently, was 137kg when he agreed to the bout.

But Hunt has since shed 10kg under the fitness regime of trainer Alex Flint and remained on track to make the UFC's heavyweight limit of 120.6kg.

Despite the deck being stacked against him, Hunt (10-8-1) embraced the chance to fight for a title on short notice.

"Training-wise, your body and mind are conditioned to expect certain things, and changing time zones means you need to re-programme your body and then you add the altitude factor which is about 2500-3000 feet above sea level and then you factor Mexico City's pollution problem," Hunt said.

"But come on, man, these are the challenges you live for, normal people don't get these opportunities because they aren't willing to take the risk. I live for this and I love being the guy who overcame the odds, it steels me for battle.

"These are obstacles to navigate not roadblocks, if the journey to the heavyweight title was easy, it wouldn't mean so much when I win."

Flint said Hunt had responded well to his training.

"Mark's weight is 100 per cent on track. I'm very pleased; it should be a smooth run into weigh-in," Flint said. "My primary concern is maintaining his strength through a fortified diet and cycling his food intake to ensure maximum energy uptake."

Hunt's striking coach, Lolo Heimuli flew into Mexico City yesterday and had quickly integrated a plan for the well-rounded Werdum.

"With a veteran like Mark, it's just getting the strategy right. Small details count in making timing work in a split second, so we'll be working on this - you don't teach the old dog new tricks but you can open the door for him to use the ones he has."

Wedrum (18-5-1) has won his past four bouts in the UFC, including a win against Roy Nelson who Hunt beat by knockout in September.